Labeling machine



May 29, 1956 J. 1.. GOLUBSKI 2,747,757

LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 h lnven for; Joseph LGo/ubs/(i 267- Affomey May 29, 1956 J. L. GOLUBSKI LABELING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1952 /n venf r Joseph L. Go/ubsk/ 3/" 5 I W A forney May 29, 1956 J. L. GOLUBSKI LABELING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28, 1952 /nven for @epbLGo/ubski May 29, 1956 J. 1.. GOLUBSKI 2,747,757

LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 r M 1mm Q m w m mq w v 6. 1m m\ L A K h M g. Q@ m J mg.

May 29, 1956 J. L. GOLUBSKI LABELING MACHINE w 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 28, 1952 orne United States Patent LABELING MACHINE Joseph L. Golubski, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Oliver Machinery Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 28, 1952, Serial No. 323,061 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) This invention relates to labeling machines. Various boxed and wrapped packages have labels applied thereto, using an adhesive thermoplastic so that when merchandised the goods within the boxes or wrappings are identified as to contents, qualities and the like.

Labeling machines for this purpose have been manufactured and sold. While reasonably successful, there are some defects present in connection with the proper adherence of the label and, particularly, labels which are applied to and upon soft or unstable surfaces which are readily yieldable and do not present firmness of reaction against pressure thereagainst from above. For example, many cartons of paperboard have cellophane upper sides, through which the articles within the boxes are visible, and it has been particularly difiicult to successfully secure the labels to such cellophane surfaces. There are many other conditions of label applying in which the wrapper or the surface to which the label is applied readily yields upon the application of pressure thereto and takes other positions than a horizontal position when the label is placed above it and attempt is made to secure the label to such unstable and uneven surface.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a labeling machine with a novel and particularly effective and successful label applying mechanism, in which the article to which the label is applied, the label above it, and a heating element above the label bearing downwardly thereon will travel simultaneously in the same direction for a sufiicient period of time that the thermoplastic adhesive at the under side of the label will be properly softened and rendered adhesive over its entire surface so as to adhere to the container or Wrapping for the articles within, in an exceptionally firm condition and there will be no defects in the adherence of labels thereto. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and very effective structural means for conforming of the label and the moving heat applying means engaging the label substantially to the yielding under surface of the wrapper or container in which the articles which are thus labeled are held or contained. 7

Many other objects and purposes than those stated, together with novel structural mechanism for attaining the same, will be apparent as an understanding of the invention is had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view with a part of the upper table broken away to disclose mechanism beneath it of the under conveying mechanism which carries the wrapped or contained articles to be labeled in succession, one after the other, to and past the labeling unit located over such conveyor unit. The View is taken looking downwardly from the plane of line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the labeling machine showing the labeling unit above the under conveying unit.

Fig. '3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section substantially on the plane of line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar section on the same plane, showing 2 the automatic stop for the articles carried by the conveyor unit, in operative position in full lines and in retracted position in dashed lines.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the heating unit and the adjacent upper portion of the conveying unit, substantially on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a partial horizontal section and plan view, the View being taken from the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings and the views are taken with respect to the section lines looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

The lower conveying unit includes a generally boxlike support having spaced vertical sides 1 and vertical ends 2, the upper edges thereof being inwardly flanged as indicated at 1a and 2a. A flat horizontal top plate or table 3 is permanently secured in place over and extending between said flanges, and across the bottom of this supporting housing is a transverse plate support 30. The supporting frame for the machine is held at a proper elevation (Fig. 2), by corner legs 4 equipped at their lower ends with adjustment means for leveling of the machine.

At the entrance end of the conveying unit of the labeling machine a pair of endless horizontally located chain conveyors 5 are located, each having projecting from links thereon, the flat engaging members 5a as shown which, in the upper runs of said conveying chains, are immediately above the top plate 3. Such conveyor chains extend somewhat less than one-half of the lengtlt of the table 3 and go around outer and inner sprockets 6 and 7 which are keyed or otherwise fixed upon horizontal shafts 8 and 9, respectively, extending between the sides of the frame support.

An electric motor 10 (Fig. 3) is carried by the bottom 3a of the frame support and drives an endless belt 11 passing around a driven pulley 12 (Fig. 1) mounted on a shaft which extends into a reduction speed gearing housing 13, and from which the horizontal driven shaft 14 extends parallel to and below the shaft 8. The shaft 14 is driven from the motor 10 at a greatly reduced speed of rotation.

Sprocket wheels 15 are fixed to the shafts 14 and 9 driving an endless chain 16 around them. Thus the shaft 9 is the driven shaft of the conveyor structure described and shaft 8 is an undriven or idler shaft. The chain 16 (Fig. 3) also passes upwardly and over a Wheel 17 fixed on an additional horizontal shaft 18 extending between the sides of the frame support, being maintained thereagainst by tighteners 19 of sprocket wheel form as shown in Fig. 3.

The shaft 18 carries two sprocket wheels 20, one adjacent each of the conveyor chains 5 (Fig. l). The shaft 18 is outwardly of or in front of the shaft 9. Two somewhat elongated endless chains 21 are around the wheels 2% and also at the rear end of the machine pass around other sprocket wheels 22 on a horizontal cross shaft 23. The conveyor chains 21 are closer together than the chains 5. From said chains 21 at spaced dis tances lugs 24 project outwardly extending above the top plate 3 in the upper runs of said chains 21.

It will be apparent that with the structure thus far described, any wrapped or contained package placed upon the members 5a secured to and movable with the conveyor chains 5, with the upper runs of said chains moving from left to right in Figs. 1 and 2, will be delivered to and above the upper runs of the conveyor chains 21 and the lugs 24 coming against the rear bottom edge portions of the wrapped or contained packages will move them thereafter lengthwise of the table 3 of the lower conveying unit of the machine until delivered at the rear end of the machine.

Shaft 14, at one end portion adjacent the front side of the machine, passes through a plate (Figs. 1 and 3) which is parallel to and is permanently mounted upon the front side 1 of the machine frame or support by means of bolts and spacing sleeves at 26 (Fig. 3). Between the side 1 and the plate 25, which serve as a hearing support for the adjacent end of the s.. a cam of two parts 27 and 28 is mounted, one part be to the shaft and the other adjustable about the shaft to different positions with respect to that part which is fixed to the shaft. The cam parts have a plurality of openings 29 therethrough spaced from each otI r different ones of which may be brought into registry and held in place by a bolt, nut or the like at 3%, so that the length of the arc of the cam may be increased or diminished depending upon the adjustment made.

A rock shaft 31 extends horizontally between the sides of the machine frame or support on which an arm 32 is clamped, extending downwardly and terminating at its free end in a laterally extending rider 33 which rides upon the edges of the two-part earn 27 and 28. Two spaced bars 34 are secured to the rock shaft 31', located between the vertical planes of the conveyor chains 5 (Fig. 1), between the inner ends of which a vertical channel 35 is located, pivotally mounted at its lower end and extending upwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It has a hook 36, with a vertical shank and an inverted U-shaped form at its upper free end secured at the outer side and upper end of channel 35. An angle bar 37 extends horizontally between the sides of the machine frame, being secured at its ends thereto, between the vertical leg of which (Figs. 3 and 4) a hook engaging keeper of shallow U-form is permanently secured, spaced a short distance from the adjacent side of said vertical leg so that when the bar 35 is lowered from its position shown in Fig. 3, the free end of the hook 36 passes be tween the vertical leg of the angle bar 37 and the keper 38.

A llat bar having a horizontal section 39 is secured at the outer side of the channel member 35 between the ends thereof, extends outwardly toward the front end of the machine for a distance, and is then bent upwardly terminating in a channel section 49, the upper end of which may be elevated above the top 3 of the machine frame or support and above the members which carry articles to be labeled from the front end of the machine to the opposite end. Rollers 41 are mounted one on each flange of the channel member iii, as shown in Fig. l, projecting a short distance above the upper edges of the channel portion 40.

An arm .32 is fixed to the bar 32 extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom to which a coiled tension spring 43 is secured at one end, and connected at its other end end to bar 37. Such spring under tension serves to draw the rider 33 against the edges of the two-part cam 27 and 28.

When the hearing or riding member 33 is against the arcuate portion of the cam of largest radius, the rock shaft being rocked counter-clockwise, the riders 33 at their inner ends are lifted upwardly moving the channel member 35 vertically upward and lifting rollers 41 and their mounting 49 to upper position above the top 3. A stop is back of the upper end of the channel 35 to limit its pivotal movement away from the angle bar 37 and the keeper 38, but sulticiently spaced that when the bar 35 is moved to come in contact with stop 44, hook 36 is moved away from the position in Fig. 3 so that lowering the bar 35 vertically may occur without hook 36 connecting with the keeper.

When the stop is in its uppermost position, as in Fig. 4,, a container or package indicated at 45 which is to be labeled on coming to said step, if it is in upper position, is arrested in movement even though the conveyor chains 5 continue to operate. The stop will be lowered when, on the counter-clockwise rotation of shaft 14 and the two-part cam 27 and 28, the rider 33 leaves the larger radius arc and moves down a side edge of the cam to the radius of shorter length. Under such circumstances rock shaft 31 Will rock clockwise, lowering the bars 34 and bodily lowering the channel member 35 and the stop rovided by the channel portion 453, so that the packages which are to be labeled may pass over the upper edge portions of the rollers 41 which will be slightly above the surfaces of the members 5a connected to the chains 5. The pressure of a package against the stop moves it until arrested by stop 44, thus moving hook 36 out of engaging position with the keeper.

When no packages to be labeled are being carried to or toward the described stop and the machine is running continuously, being driven by the electric motor 10, there will be a short vertical reciprocation of channel member 35 and the stop carried thereby, limited as to down movement by engagement of the hook 36 with the keeper 38. With no packages, or if there is a gap in the feeding of packages to the machine, to engage the stop 46 as in Fig. 4 and swing it clockwise, the normal position of bar 35 and hook 36 is that shown in Fig. 3 due to gravity, the weight of the channel d6), rollers 41 and bar 39 turning the unit consisting of such parts and the channel 35 counter-clockwise until contact engagement with the side of the keeper 3% occurs. This will be the movement when there is no pressure against the stop by reason of an article moving through the machine, coming to and being pressed against the stop. Such pressure against the stop will turn the bar 35 from its vertical position, shown in Fig. 3 slightly inward at its upper end or until it comes against its stop (as in Fig. 4) moving the hook 36 back out of engagement with the keeper 38. Such movement, as shown in Fig. 4, will take place before the rider member 33 leaves the greater radius edges of the two-part cam 27 and 2d, and both the bar 35 and the stop carried by it are then free for full downward movement as the rider member 33 moves from the longer to the shorter radius edges of the cam parts. With the lowering of the stop the wrapped package or container which is to be labeled has the stop removed from in front of it and it may be carried by the conveyor chains 5 and the parts 5a secured thereto from such first conveyor to the second conveyor, including the chains 2!, to be engaged by the projecting lugs 24 for continuance of movement of the package to be labeled to the outer end of the machine. It is apparent that no matter how rapidly the articles which are to have labels secured thereto are supplied to the machine, there can be a passage thereof beyond the stop provided by the part 40 of one only of each revolution of the shaft 14.

The articles which are to be wrapped are guided in their movements lengthwise of the machine at their sides by spaced side bars 46 extending the length of the machine above the top or table 3, which bars are adjustably mounted at their ends through the medium of the slots 47, shown in Fig. transverse of the top or table 3 at each end thereof, and associated with which are suitable releasable bolts, the bars 46 being adjustable for different dimension widths of the articles which are labeled when passing through the machine.

Shaft 9, also through a chain 48, drives a sprocket 49 from which the labeling unit located above the conveying unit of the machine is simultaneously driven with the conveyors of the conveying unit, having an operative driving connection with shaft 50 (Fig. 7) which, when the machine is in operation, is continuously driven from the shaft 9.

The labeling unit is located above and spaced from the top or table 3, being supported by spaced vertical posts 51 and 52 which, in practice, are adjustable vertically to permit the machine to apply labels to wrapped or contained packages of different heights. The major portion of the labeling unit is disposed in front of said posts over the conveying chains 21. It includes a carrying frame for the mechanism having spaced parallel generally vertical sides 53 and 54 suitably connected to make a rigid support. The shaft 50 passes through the rear side 54. At its inner end it is equipped with a gear 55 in mesh with a pinion 56 on a cross shaft 57. The shaft 57 thus driven drives an endless chain 58 which passes over a sprocket wheel 59 on the shaft 57, thence downwardly underneath a second sprocket chain 60 on a shaft 61 parallel to and below the shaft 57, leading therefrom to and around a relatively large wheel 62 thence back in the upper run of the chain to the initial wheel 59. Such chain 58 is positioned over the space between the two lower conveyor chains 21 and under it the packages 45 to be labeled will pass.

Wheel 62 is fixed on a shaft 63 which is pivotally suspended by two spaced arms 64 (Fig. 7) adjacent the outer ends of the spaced sides 53 and 54 of the labeling unit. A coiled tension spring 65 is disposed between a cross bar 64a connecting the arms 64, and a horizontal bar or rod 66 spaced from the bar 64a as shown in Fig. 5, thereby maintaining the chain 58 under tension. Shaft 63 at opposite sides of the wheel 62 carries two relatively large rollers 67 of heat resistant sponge rubber. These rollers are not permanently secured to the shaft 63 but grip it functionally. The rollers may be driven by the shaft 63 through such frictional engagement but also the rollers and the shaft may have relative rotative movement with respect to each other.

A second horizontal cross shaft 68 between the sides 53 and 54 is driven by the gear 55 through a pinion 69 on shaft 68. Two spaced sprocket wheels 70 are secured to the shaft 68 between its ends around which are two endless chains 71 which lead around two cooperating sprocket wheels 72 on a spaced cross shaft 73, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

Two pairs of blocks 74 are mounted upon and extend between the spaced chains 71. Each has a downwardly extending face member 75 which, on the lower run of the chain 71, may at the lower faces thereof extend to or below the lower sides of the chains 58 to bear upon labels lying upon the upper sides of packages 45 to be labeled. The chains 71 are slack upon the wheels 70 and 72, thus the lower runs of said chains 71 sag downwardly, insuring that the under faces of the parts 75 will engage with and press the labels against the upper sides of the packages 45, maintaining a gravity actuated pressure bearing contact therewith even though the upper portions of the wrappers or containers of the packages may be unstable and yield readily, as is the case with many wrapped packages and with containers having transparent cellophane or other flexible, yieldable upper sides.

A relatively heavy metal block 76 is located between the shafts 68 and 73 and between the upper and lower runs of the chains 71 (Fig. 5), being supported by spaced rods 77 at each side thereof connected to angle brackets 78 which are fastened by screws or other. suitable connections to the sides 53 and 54 of the label unit frame. The upper side of the block 76 is smooth and flat and the blocks 75 ride thereagainstwhen the upper run of the chain moves from the outer to the inner end of such block 76.

The block 76 is heated and its temperature raised by electric heating elements 79 located near the upperside of said. block and extending across it. There are a plurality of such heating elements in the length of the block 76 spaced from each other so that on a supply of electric current to the heating elements through the wires 80 (Fig. 6) in an electric current circuit, the block 76 is heated and accumulates a body of heat which is conducted to the sealing blocks 74 when they move lengthwise of said block, their temperature being elevated and such temperature being substantially maintained for a period of time after the sealing blocks 74 leave the heating block 76 and pass to the lower runs of the chain 71, supplying the requisite heat and temperature for softening the thermoplastic adhesive of labels delivered to and lying against the upper sides of the packages 45.

The labels are supplied, one to each of the packages, at and below the front end of the labeling unit substantially in accordance wtih old practice as shown in earlier patents, two of which are Nos. 2,244,140, issued June 3, 1941, and 2,326,436, issued August 10, 1943. The labels are in a continuous strip or length of labels as at 81 (Figs. 2 and 5), passing around a driven roller 82 to the under side thereof which roller has projecting pins which enter spaced notches in the label strip (Fig. 7) to impart longitudinal movement thereof. The strip is led to and over a downwardly inclined support 83 (Fig. 5) to and between rollers 84 and 85, driven by roller 87 (Fig. 7). The labels are periodically severed by a cutter 86, one at a time and in succession from the end of the label strip in synchronism with the movement of a package which is to be labeled to the lower run of the chain 58. The labels are deposited on the packages 45 in succession and held against accidental or aimless movement by the lower run of the chain 58 and carried to the sealing blocks 74, the parts 75 of which press against the upper side of a label and raisethe temperature of the thermoplastic adhesive at the under side of the label to a point where it becomes strongly adhesive and sticks to the wrapping or upper side of the package 45 beneath it.

In the passage of the packages to be wrapped, each in succession rides over a switch 88 located so that when the switch is closed by a package bearing against it (Fig. 1) an electrically operated clutch in the label mechanism will be actuated to connect the label feed mechanism, which is itself old and well known with the remainder of the conveying unit and labeling unit mechanism which is in continuous operation so as to cut a label from the end of the label strip 81 and deposit it upon the package which has actuated the switch. Such clutch is of well known automatic single revolution type which operates through one cycle or revolution of the connected shaft and then is stopped. This insures the deposit of the label on the package to which it is to be secured by a feeding of the label strip forward one step of operation and a severing of the label so that it comes properly against the upper side of the package at the right time.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the wrapped or contained packages 45 fed into the machine are carried, first by the conveyor chains 5 until the stop at 45 is reached, and that there is a correct timing of the packages through the machine governed by the control of package movement of one package with each revolution of the shaft 14. The movements of the remaining mechanism driven from the shaft 9 which also drives the shaft 14 is in a timed relationship such that the deposit of a severed label occurs at the right time that it will fall upon a package 45 below it, and will be immediately held by the lower run of chain 58 in passing to the sealing blocks 74 and their projections 75; that the lower faces of the parts 75 of-blocks 74 carried by the lower runs of chains '71 will bear against the upper sides of a label during the full movement of said blocks 74 from the left to the right (Fig. 5), there being an appreciable time interval for the application of heat and temperature transmitted by the heated blocks to the label. When the wrapped'or contained packages leave the labeling unit of the machine and pass underneath the resilient heat resistant rollers 67, pressure continues against the labels, and being by rollers of yieldable material there is conformance to unstable upper sides of wrapped or contained packages. The labels are cooled under maintained pressure while the adhesive is setting.

The mechanism described has been made, tested and 7 tried out and is being sold and in practical use for the purposes for which it was designed. It is a very useful and practical mechanism and one of a relatively simplified structure and design.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine having means for moving packages in succession, one following another in a continuous, horizontal, straight path of movement, and having additional means for depositing a label at the upper side of each package, the improvement comprising, a horizontally located endless carrier located over the path of travel of said packages, blocks carried by said carrier adapted to bear against labels, one in succession to another, and press a label against the upper side of an associated package and transmit heat thereto, means for heating said blocks between engagements thereof with labels and means for driving said carrier at the same speed as the speed of movement of said packages.

2. Structure having the elements defined in claim 1, said heating means comprising an elongated heating member around which said endless carrier moves, over the upper side of said member and below the lower side thereof, said blocks carried by the endless carrier riding upon the upper side of said heating member and receiving heat therefrom and means to heat said member.

3. In a labeling machine having means for moving packages in succession, one following another at spaced intervals at a continuous, horizontal, uniform speed in a straight path of movement, and having additional means for depositing a label having a thermoplastic adhesive at its under side upon the upper side of each package during its movement, the improvement comprising, two spaced horizontal endless carriers mounted over the path of travel of said packages having lower runs thereof moving in the same direction as said packages and at the same speed, spaced blocks carried by said carriers transversely thereof and between them adapted, each on the lower run of said carriers, to press against a label lying against the upper side of a package and move with said package and its associated label substantially the length of the lower runs of said carriers, and means for heating said blocks prior to their pressure engagement with labels.

4. Structure having the elements defined in claim 3, said endless carriers being fiexible and the lower runs thereof slack, whereby the blocks when in the lower runs of the carriers sag downwardly and press the labels against yielding upper sides of packages.

5. Structure having the elements defined in claim 3, and an elongated, horizontal heating member located between the upper and lower runs of said endless carriers and between the ends thereof, having a horizontal upper side against which said blocks engage and press when passing thereover in the upper runs of said carriers, having heat transmitted thereto, and means for heating said memher.

6. The method of attaching labels to packages which consists in. depositing a label having a thermoplastic adhesive at its under side on the upper side of each of a succession of moving packages, and pressing against each label at its upper side with a relatively heavy periodically preheated member and moving it with the package and label, in unison therewith, for a predetermined distance.

7. The method of attaching labels to packages which consists in moving a succession of packages, one after the other in a horizontal path of movement, depositing a label having a thermoplastic adhesive at its under side on the upper side of each package in succession, one after another, and pressing against each label in succession, under the influence of gravity, a preheated relatively heavy member covering the entire label, and moving said member with its associated package and label for a predetermined distance, and at the same speed of movement as the package.

8. In a labeling machine having means for moving packages in succession, one following another at spaced intervals, at a continuous, horizontal, uniform speed of movement, and having additional means for depositing a label having a thermoplastic adhesive at its under side upon the upper side of each moving package, the improvement comprising, two spaced horizontally located endless chains and spaced sprocket wheels around which the chains are carried, located above the path of movement of said packages beyond the place of label depositing, means to drive said chains at the same speed of movement as the packages, and with the lower runs of said chains moving in the same direction as the packages, spaced transverse blocks carried by and between the chains having under surfaces coming to and against the upper sides of labels, said chains being slack so that the lower runs of said chains sag downward and the blocks rest by gravity on said labels, and means for supplying heat to said blocks to raise the temperature thereof while said blocks are located in the upper runs of said chains.

9. Mechanism for heating and cementing thermoplastic labels, coated at the under sides thereof, to the upper sides of packages moving thereunder comprising, an elongated generally horizontal fixed heater member, means for supplying heat thereto, endless carrying means mounted for continuous movement over, around and under said heater member, blocks interposed in the length of said endless carrying means riding against the upper side of the heater member when in upper position having heat conveyed thereto in passing over while in contact therewith, and spaced from the lower side of said heater member after passing around and underneath it, said blocks adapted to bear upon labels at the upper side of boxes for supplying said labels with heat and exerting gravity pressure thereon to afiix the labels.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, said endless carrying members comprising flexible conveyors adapted to sag downwardly below the lower side of the heating member due to the weight of said blocks when said blocks are at the under side of the heater member, and conform to the upper side of yielding packages and coverings therefor and maintain pressure engagement of said heated blocks with labels upon boxes, said boxes and labels being adapted to be moved in the same direction and at the same speed of movement as said blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,212 Kimball et a1 Oct. 31, 1922 1,588,821 Stebler June 15, 1926 1,752,540 Olson Apr. 1, 1930 1,810,645 Dieter June 16, 1931 1,969,660 McLaurin Aug. 7, 1934 2,047,406 Copping July 14, 1936 2,167,356 George July 25, 1939 2,221,845 Paterson Nov. 19, 1940 2,280,730 Talbot Apr. 21, 1942 2,579,631 Von Hofe Dec. 25, 1951 

